Sheet handling apparatus



Jan. 19, 1960 c. E. PARKER SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Cues/v05 PAR/(ER ArromvsyS Filed May 16, 1956 mum" Jan. 19, 1960 c. E. PARKER SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1956 INVENTOR. NCEEIOARKER Arron/vsxs SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Clarence E. Parker, Painesville, Ohio, assignor' to The Coe Manufacturing Company, Painesvilie, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 16, 1956, Serial No. 585,303

2 Claims. (Cl. 19820) The present invention relates to material handling apparatus of the feeder type and, more particularly, to apparatus for feeding veneer to a multiple deck conveyor type Veneer dryer. 7

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved simple, inexpensive and reliable apparatus for use in feeding material in sheet form to a multiple deck conveyor type dryer or the like.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved apparatus for feeding veneer to a multiple deck conveyor type veneer dryer in predetermined relation and which apparatus comprises a vertical movable feed unit automatically indexible from one deck of the dryerto another and a table, the feed-in or operator end of which remains at or substantially at the same elevation While the other end moves with the feed unit from deck to deck.

The inventionv resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further obthe art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the present invention and designed for feeding veneer to a multiple deck conveyor type veneer dryer;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig.4 is a sectional View, with portions in elevation, approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric control circuits of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference character A designates the in-feed end of a five deck conveyor type veneer'dryer and B a roller type conveyor feed section for the veneer dryer. Both the dryer A and the conveyor section B are of commerical construction and are not herein shown and described in detail because apparatus of the type referred to is well known in the art and per se forms no part of the present invention. As shown, the dryer feed section B comprises five decks 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of in-feed rollers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 respectively. The rollers of the respective decks are all driven at a predetermined uniform speed from a motor 20 by suitable means, such as sprocket chain drives 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and operate to move sheets of veneer, indicated by the reference character V, into the dryer proper.

The usual practice is to bring the veneer to stacks of dryer on trucks and have workmen remove the veneer from the trucks one or more sheets at a time with the trucks standing on the fioor or on a vertically adjustable elevator and feed it into the various decks of the dryer or conveyor feed section by hand. The present invention atent' does not necessarily contemplate any change in the conventionalmanner of bringing the veneer to the dryer. The operator or operators in the present instance, however, either standing upon the floor or upon the adjustable platform at the front of the stack or stacks of veneer take the top sheet or sheets of veneer and places them on the table 31 of the feeder, designated generally as C, and pushes them between the rubber covered pinch rolls 32, 33, see Figs. 3 and 4, of a vertically movable feed unit D until they strike a stop 34. The feed unit D including the pinch rolls 32, 33, is movable vertically as will be hereinafter described to sequentially align the pinch rolls with the respective decks of the dryer feed section B. With the feed unit aligned with a deck the stop 34 is automatically raised and the rolls 32, 33 actuated to feed veneer therebetween to the dryer feed section and in turn to the dryer.

The feeding apparatus or feeder C, as shown, comprises a frame which supports the vertically movable feed unit D. The frame includes right and left-hand end columns or uprights 36, 37 each composed of a pair of vertical channel irons 38, 39 arranged as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In addition to the vertically extending channel irons referred to, the frame comprises transversely extending angle members 40, 41, 42, 43 connected to the channel members adjacent to their top and bottom ends and top plates 46, 47 connecting the top ends of the respective pairs of channel irons. The vertically movable assembly or feed unit D includes end plates 48 adjacent to the columns 36, 37 and having tubular.members 50 welded thereto provided with reduced end sections upon which rollers 51 are carried, there being one roller adjacent to each of the four corners of the endplates. The rollers 51 engage within suitable tracks 52, 53 at opposite sides of the columns and guide the movable plates 48 during their vertical movement. The tracks or guides 52, 53 are fixed to the respective channel irons 38, 39.

Opposite end, plates 48 of the vertically movable feed unit D are provided with suitable bearings welded thereto for supporting the shaft-like ends of the bottom pinch roll 32. The end of the roll 32 seen in Figs. 3 and 4, extends beyond thebearing therefor and is adapted to be driven from an electric motor 56 mounted on a plate 57 carried by the plate 48 of the vertically movable assembly at the rear side of the feeder as viewed in Fig 2. The motor 56 is operatively connected to the roll 32 by a sprocket chain drive 58, the driven sprocket 59 of which is keyed to a sleeve 60 rotatably supported on a stud shaft 61 fixed to the adjacent plate 48 and projecting outwardly therefrom. The sleeve 60 is connected to the roll 32 by a second sprocket chain drive 62.

The upper roll 33 of the feed unit D is similar to the lower roll 32 andincludes shaft like extensions 63 projecting from opposite ends through elong'atedslots 64 in the plates 48 Where they are supported in suitable bearings 65 fixedly connected to the free, ends of levers 66 pivoted about the sleeve members 60 carried by the plates 48. The right-hand end of the top roll 33 is adapted to be driven from the sleeve 60 by the motor 56 through a sprocket chain drive 67. The construction is such that the two pinch rolls 32 and 37 are rotated at uniform speed by the motor 56.

The upper roll 33 is normally maintained in a raised position by counterbalance springs 68 connected to the levers 66 and to brackets 70 fixed to the plates 48 forming a part of the feed unit frame. The upper roll 33 is moved towards the lower roll 32 by fluid pressure operated motors 75, one at either side of the feed unit D, the cylinder assemblies of which are pivotally connected to brackets 70 and the piston assemblies of which are pivotally connected to the arms or levers 67 which carry the bearings 65 for the upper roll 33. The control for supplying and exhausting pressure fluid to and from the motors 75 will be hereinafter specifically referred to and is suchthat the motors 75 can be operated to selectively move-the upper roll 33 towards the lower roll 31 or allow it to move away from the lower roll. This is automatically effected periodically to feed a piece of veneer, the end of which has been pushed into the opening between the rolls 32, 33 by the operator.

The stop 34 which is in the form of a transverse member extending between and welded to end brackets or levers 80 is normally positioned in the path of veneer being pushed between the pinch rolls 32, 33 to limit the forward movement of the'veneer as it is pushed between the pinch rolls by the operator. The levers 80 are pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the plates 48 by pivots 81, and their oppositely extending free ends project underneath reduced end portions 82 of the upper roll 33. When the upper roll is lowered, the engagement therebetween and the adjacent ends of the levers 80 cause the levers to be moved about their pivots 81 and the stop member 34 raised out of the path of the veneer.

The feed unit D and the operating mechanism forming a part thereof or connected thereto, including the pinch rolls 32, 33, is moved vertically to align or approximately align the pinch rolls with the decks of the dryer feed section B by a reversible electric hoist motor 90 provided with a solenoid release brake and connected by a gear reduction unit 91 and a sprocket chain drive 92 to a transverse shaft 93 extending across the top of the frame of the feeder C and rotatably supported in a plurality of bearings 94, 95. The shaft 93 is connected to the vertically movable plates 48 by sprocket chains 96 reeved about sprocket wheels 97, 98 on the shaft 93 and sprocket wheels 99 connected to the end frame members 36, 37. Opposite ends of the sprocket chains 96 are connected to the upper and lower edges of the plates 48. The uppersprocket wheels 97, 98 are keyed to the shaft 93 and the lower sprocket wheels 99 are rotatably connected to the end columns of the feeder C adjacent to the floor. The weight of the vertically movable assembly may be counterbalanced if desired by a weight slidably supported between the two channel members of the rear end column of the frame of the feeder C and operatively connected to a cable drum on the rear end of the shaft 93. The construction is such that the hoist motor 90 which is reversible can be operated in opposite directions to raise and lower the feed unit D and align the pinch rolls 32, 33 with the respective decks of the dryer feed section B.

The movement of the vertical assembly or feed unit D and the closing and opening of the pinch rolls 32, 33 are operated in timed relation with reference to the speed of the decks of the dryer feed section B by a cam 105 connected to one end of the shaft of the motor 20 which cam periodically actuates an electric switch 106. The timing mechanism preferably includes means for adjusting the time interval to suit the particular length of the sheets being fed, it being understood that the apparatus is adapted to feed sheets of different lengths without excessive space between adjoining sheets as they advance on the feeder conveyor section B to the dryer A. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, the fluid pressure actuated motor 75 is not operated nor is the feed unit D moved vertically upon each closing of the synchronizing switch 106. This sequence of operations takes place only if there is a sheet of veneer between the pinch rolls, that is, in position to be fed to the respective deck with which the rolls are then aligned. This is accomplished by a limit switch 110 carried by the feed unit D and adapted to be actuated by a cam 111 connected to a transversely extending shaft 112 provided with a downwardly projecting leaf-like member for feeler 113. The lower end of the member 113 projects into the' path of the veneer immediately in front of the stop 34 and as a sheet of veneer is pushed against the stop the cam 111 is rotated in a clockwise direction to close the switch 110. The switch and the operating mechanism therefor can be eliminated if desired. In this event, however, the feed unit D will move from deck to deck upon each actuation of the limit switch 106 regardless of whether or not a sheet of veneer is in feeding position in the feed unit.

Although the feed unit D may be reciprocated vertically in a continuous manner and the feeding operation synchronized to take place as it passes in alignment with the various decks, in the embodiment of the invention shown, the feed unit D is indexed from deck to deck in a vertically upwardly direction and is rapidly returned to its lower position after a sheet of veneer has been fed to the upper deck.

The bottom and top positions of the feed unit D are controlled by a limit switch 115 carried by the feed unit and positioned to engage bottom and top adjustable stops 116, 117 carried by the end frame 36. The intermediate rest positions of the feed unit D are controlled by a limit switch 120 fixed to the end frame member 36 and adapted to be actuated by adjustable stops 121, 122 and 123 on a vertically positioned rod 124 connected to the feed unit D by one or more suitable brackets 125. The control is such that the feed unit D is indexed in an upwardly direction from its bottom position shown in the drawings in which position it is in alignment with the bottom deck of the conveyor feed section .and comes to rest temporarily in alignment with the respective upper decks during the feeding of a sheet of veneer thereto. When the feed unit D reaches the top position, it is rapidly returned to the bottom or starting position upon the completion of the feeding of a sheet of veneer to the top deck of the conveyor feed section. It is believed that the control circuit will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and it is not herein shown and described in detail.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5 the drive motor 56 for the pinch rolls 32, 33 is started by depressing the start push button switch 125. This closes a circuit from a line L-1 through the normally closed stop button switch 126 and the solenoid 127 of the motor controller for the motor 56 to a line L-2. Energization of the solenoid 127 connects the motor 56 to the power lines and closes a holding circuit contact 128 on the controller panel which maintains the motor in operation until stopped by the operator depressing the stop push button switch 126.

When the switch 106 is closed by the cam 105 it establishes a circuit from the line 1P1 through the operating solenoid 130 of a relay 131 to the line L-2 and, if the normally closed contacts 152 of relay 140 are closed, a second circuit from the line L-1 to the line L-2 through solenoid 134 of a solenoid valve which controls the flow of pressure fluid to and from the motor 75. Energization of the operating solenoid 134 admits pressure fluid to the motor 75 causing the motor to force the top pinch roll 33 towards the bottom pinch roll 32. Since the pinch rolls are rotating, the veneer therebetween is fed to the deck of the dryer feed section B in alignment therewith. The energization of solenoid 130 of relay 131 closes the normally opened contacts 132 of the relay establishing a circuit, in the event the normally opened contacts 133 of the switch 110 are closed by a sheet of veneer being in engagement with the member 113, from line L-l through the now closed normally open contacts 133 of switch 110., the now closed normally open contacts 132 of the relay 131. The feeding operationof the pinch rolls 32, 33 continues until the trailing end of the veneer clears the member 113 allowing the normally open contacts 133 of the switch 110 to open and the normally closed contacts 135th'ereof to close.

The closing of contacts 135 establishes a circuit" from the line L-l through the now closed contacts 1350f switch 110 through the operating solenoid 136 of a time delay relay 137. After a predetermined time interval, which interval is long enough to permit the trailing end of the veneer to clear the stop 34, the normally open contacts 138 of the time delay relay close. The closing of the contacts 138 establishes a circuit from the line L-1 through the normally closed contacts 135 of switch 110, the now closed normally open contacts 138 of time delay relay 137, normally closed contacts 139 of relay 140, and operating solenoid 141 of relay 142 to line L-Z. The energization of the operating solenoid 141 of relay 142 closes the normally open contacts 143, 144 thereof. The closing of the normally open contacts 143 of relay 142 establishes a circuit from the lines L-1- through the now closed contacts 143, normally closed contacts '145 of switch 115, normally closed contacts of switch 120 and the operating solenoid 146 of the motor controller for the hoist motor 90 to the line L-2. Energization of the operating solenoid 146 causes the motor 90 which is of the reversible type to be connected to the power lines in such a manner that the motor rotates in a direction to raise the feed unit D. Energization of the operating solenoid 146 also closes holding contacts 147 on the motor controller panel which maintains the motor 90 in operation subsequent to the opening of the contacts 143 which contacts are merely closed momentarily, as will be herein after apparent.

The feed unit D continues to move in an upwardly direction until the switch 120 is opened by one of the contacts 121, 122, 123 depending upon which of the decks of the conveyor feed section was in alignment with the feed unit, or more particularly the pinch rolls thereof, during the immediately preceding feeding operation. The opening of the switch 120 breaks the circuit to the solenoid 146 thereby causing the motor 90 to stop and the electrical brake associated therewith to be applied. The closing of the normally open contact 144 of relay 142 establishes a circuit from the line L-1 through the normally closed contacts 135 of switch 110, the now closed contacts 138 of time delay relay 137, contacts 144 and operating solenoid 150 of relay 140 to line L-Z. The energization of the operating solenoid 150 of relay 140 causes the normally open contact 151 to close and the normally closed contacts 139, 152 to open. The closing of the normally open contact 151 establishes a circuit around the now closed contacts 144 of relay 150 Which contacts open upon the closing of contact 151 to main tain the operating solenoid 150 of relay 140 energized. The opening of contacts 139 of relay 140 deenergizes the operating solenoid 141 of relay 142 allowing the contacts 143 thereof to open. The opening of the normally closed contacts 152 of relay 140 opens the circuit for the relay 131 through the switch 110 previously referred to thereby preventing any possibility of repeating the feeding cycle if the switch 106 should again close while a sheet of veneer is being fed to one of the decks.

When the feed unit B is moved into a position to feed the top deck the motor 90 is stopped by the opening of the now closed contacts 145 of the switch 115 rather than the opening of the switch 120 and upon the subsequent closing of the contacts 143 of relay 142 a circuit is established from the line L-1 through the now closed contacts 143, the now closed contacts 153 of switch 115 and operating solenoid 154 of the motor controller for the motor 90 to the line L-2. Energization of the operating solenoid 154 causes the motor 90 to be connected to the power lines in such a manner that the motor rotates in the direction to lower the feed unit to a position in alignment with the bottom deck of the conveyor feed section. Holding contacts 155 are simultaneously closed maintaining the motor in operation subsequent to the opening of the contacts 143. When the feed unit has reached its lower position the switch 115 is again actuated to open its contacts 153 thereby stopping the motor and to close the contacts of the switch 115. Upon the next closing of the switch 106 the cycle'of operation is repeated assuming the normally open contacts 133 of switch 110 are closed by a sheet of veneer being in engagement with the member 113.

The forward end of the feed table 31, referring to the direction in which the veneer advances through the feeder, extends closely adjacent to the lower pinch roll 32 and is pivotally connected to the opposite side plates 48 of the vfeedunit D by a transversely extending shaft to which it is fixed. Thesha-ft 160 is pivotally connected to the side plates 48 by having its opposite ends project into suitable apertures in the side plates. To the right of its pivotal connection with the feed unit-D the opposite sides of table 31 are pivotally connected to strap-likemembers 161 connected in and carried by continuous sprocket chains 162. Opposite ends of the sprocket chains 162 are adjustably connected to opposite ends of the straps 161. The sprocket chains 162 are reeved or looped above sprocket wheels 163, 164 rotatably connected to the end frames adjacent thereto, the wheels 163 being connected to the frames adjacent to the tops thereof and the wheels 164 being connected to the frames adjacent to the bottoms thereof.

The upper sprocket wheels 163 are keyed to a transversely extending shaft 165 adapted to be rotated from the shaft 93 by a sprocket chain drive 166. The construction is such that, as the feed unit D is moved vertically the straps 131, connected to opposite sides of the table 31, are moved in the same direction but at a slower rate of speed with the result that as the feed unit D is raised or lowered the rear or operators end of the table 31 is maintained at a constant or a substantially constant elevation as indicated in dot-dash lines in Figs. 1 and 3. The particular table 31 shown is made of three telescopic sections designated 170, 171, 172 with the result that its length can be adjusted to better accumulate the feeding of sheets of veneer of different lengths. It is to be understood, however, that the table may be of constant length and that the sheets of veneer may be fed thereto other than by hand, for example, as by a continuous conveyor.

If the switch 110 is omitted as previously suggested the relays 137, 140, 142, the operation of which is controlled thereby would naturally be omitted and the contacts 143 of relay 142 would be replaced by a limit switch operated in timed relation to the operation of the switch 106. This control, for example, could be a switch operated by a second rise or trip on the cam 105, which rise might be adjustable relative to the one which operates the switch 106. Alternatively the same trip could operate both switches in timed relation. In the event the switch 110 is omitted the cam 105 would be so constructed as to maintain the pinch rolls 32, 33 and the hoist motor 90 operative for the desired length of time.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and improved simple inexpensive and reliable apparatus for feeding veneer to a multiple deck veneer type dryer. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with considerable detail the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is the intention to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as follows:

1. In a feeder of the character described, a feed unit reciprocable in a generally vertical path, power actuated means for moving said unit in said path, a table having one end pivotally connected to said unit for movement about a generally horizontal axis, a member connected to said table at a point spaced from said axis, and power actuated means for moving said member in a generally vertical direction in timed relationto and in the-same direction as the vertical movement of said feed unit but at a slower rate of speed whereby the end of said table opposite its pivotal connection to said unit from said member remains substantially stationary.

2. In a feeder of the character described, a feed unit comprising a pair of pinch rolls, means supporting said feed unit for reciprocable movement in a generally vertical path, power actuated means for efiecting movement of said unit in said path, power actuated means for eifecting operation of said pinch rolls to feed a sheet of material placed therebetweemmeans for controlling the operation of said last-named power actuated means in timed relation to the movement of said unit, a table pivotally connected to said unit for movement about a generally horizontal axis, a member connected to said table at a'point spaced from said axis, and power actuated means for effecting movement of said member in a generally vertical direction in timed relation to and in the same direction as the vertical movement of said feed unit but at a slower rate of speed whereby the end of said table opposite its pivotal connection to said unit from said member remains substantially stationary.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,520 Jones Feb. 27, 1900 1,766,142 Olson June 24, 1930 1,958,133 Delany May 8, 1934 2,642,221 Oifutt et a1 June 16, 1953 2,649,182 Parker Aug. 18, 1953 

